Near

Psalms 145:18 NIV The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Understanding the truth of who God is may be the most important principle of living a fulfilling, abundant Christian life. Sadly, many people’s concepts and ideas of God have been formed more by Hollywood or religion than the truth of scripture. God is seen as distant and unapproachable, sitting somewhere on a heavenly throne. We pray as if God were somewhere far off, detached from our lives, the world, and mankind. But one true aspect of God that changes everything is this…. God is near.

God’s deepest desire is an intimate, constant, and ever-growing relationship with you. Scripture begins with God creating a perfect world and a beautiful garden. A place where He could spend time with Adam and creation. God walked with Adam in the garden, in the cool of the evening. They spent time talking, discussing every part of creation. Genesis 2:19 tells us that God brought every living creature to Adam to be named. God was near.

Scripture ends with God in a beautiful place, a new heaven, built by Jesus (John 14:2, “I go to prepare a place for you”). This place is created specifically for God and man to have an eternal relationship together. Revelation 21:3 tells us, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” A place for God to be forever near, continually abiding with his children. God desires to be near and live with his children.

God drew near to Moses in profound ways, speaking with him face-to-face as a man speaks with his friend, meeting him at the burning bush, sharing a meal, and letting him see His glory from the cleft of a rock. When Moses and the people of Israel left Egypt, “The Lord went ahead of them and guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire” (Exodus 13:21). God was near to Israel. Then God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, and why? “They are to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). God wanted to be near.

Because mankind’s sin continued to separate God from his first love, you and me, God sent his only son to live a perfect life, defeat death, and forever remove the barriers to us living in a pure relationship. A relationship based solely on the righteousness of Jesus, not on our own efforts. When the prophet Isaiah foretold of the coming messiah, he called him “Emmanuel, God is with us.” God wanted to be near his children. When Jesus died on the cross, the Temple curtain that separated God’s presence was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). God was announcing "nothing can separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). God desires to be near to his children.

Paul writes to the Church at Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5). The very reason we can rejoice always, regardless of current circumstances or future worries, is the four words at the end…” The Lord is near.” Scripture tells us that in God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11), that in the new heaven, “God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4). All because God desires to be near his children.

From Genesis to Revelation, all of scripture is about God’s desire to be near his children. When you become aware that we do not worship a distant God but a God who constantly desires to be near you, everything changes. You finally begin to grasp that “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:39). Rejoice! God is near!

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Psalms 119:151 NLT But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.

Deuteronomy 4:7 NIV What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?

Acts 17:27-28 BSB God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

Psalms 34:18 NIV The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 58:9 NIV Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

John 14:23 NIV Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

Psalms 46:1 ESV God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

James 4:8 NLT Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Psalms 73:28 NIV But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Isaiah 55:6 NLT Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

Philippians 4:4-5 NIV Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Psalms 139:7-10 NIV Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Revelation 21:3 NIV And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Matthew 6:6 TLV But you, when you pray, go into your inner room; and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you.

1 John 4:15-16 NASB Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 Peter 2:9-10 NASB But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.